BILLIARDS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 304, 12 September 1918, Page 6

BILLIARDS

0THE AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP. The first round in. the finals for the premier amateur billiard distinction was plaved last night at Alcock s, Tucker, of Wellington, and Siedeberg, of Dunedin, being the contestants. As is natural, play at the commencement was exceedingly slow, both players niduMiif in considerable safety. Tucker'was the first to reach a century, securing that number when his opponent was 58. The second century also fell to the same player,_ who at tins sta<*e was nearly 50 points ahead or SieSeberg. At 255 both players were level, and Tucker, giving a miss, allowed his opponent for the first tnno since the beginning to lead him' ■ j' looked like being first at 300, but Siedeberg, who was beginning to cue a little more freely, got there first witu a losing hazard break plus an odd cannon or so of 43. Siedeberg also managed to beat his opponent to the '100 mark, but Tucker, who was only a few points behind, secured a neat little break or 23, and drew ahead again. Siedeberg then got to work in earnest with Ins long suit the red loser, and in quick time rattled up a 59, which lie followed lip immediately with a 43. Tucker was having a rough time both in the matter of leaves and the run of the balls. The scores at this stage stood: Siedeberg. 509; Tucker, 430. From tliiß on the visitor had matters his own way, and with favourable position got Ming well. He secured a nice 43, mid a little later gained the required points—666— with an almost completely red loser break of 102. The highest breaks were: ■Siedeberg, 22, 23, 27, 31. 43, 32, 29, 59, 44, 43, 102; Tucker, 22, 21, 81, 31, 23, 30., The averages were: Siedeberg, 7.74: Tucker, 5.35. To-night tha second round will be played.